The World

Bangladeshi police with metal-tipped truncheons injured at least 45 demonstrators during a protest to keep candidates from filing for the March 3 election, which the opposition is boycotting as part of its campaign against President Hussain Mohammed Ershad. Only a few candidates have filed for the 300 seats in Parliament, officials said, and the deadline for accepting nominations was extended until Monday. The opposition charges that the election will be rigged in favor of Ershad's party.